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Knick Knack Paddy Whack
A new take on a traditional song! This version features a parade of children from different cultures, each of them playing a different instrument. The simple counting theme and repetitive text will have readers singing along as this old man comes rolling home!
24 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 22, 2018
Barefoot Books is a pretty remarkable children's press for many reasons related to sustainability and manufacturing standards. They also have a firm commitment to inclusive books that showcase human diversity (including visible forms of disability). The Barefoot Singalong series is particularly special.
Barefoot Books has created an animated version of each book in this series (they come on the CD, but are also online and linked below). Your child can watch these first if that kind of conditioning helps your kids to be more interested in the books (as it does mine).
This traditional counting song is even better when it's reimagined as a street parade of kids from different cultures playing all kinds of instruments. Many kids will be familiar with the traditional song, while others may think of it as the Barney theme.
The origins of "Knick Knack Paddy Whack" are obscure and no one really knows what it means for the Old Man to "play one" or "play two" (at least that I could uncover). This book deals with the possible confusion about the counting element by having each new child character standing on top of the next numeral. It's a decent solution.
I love this book for introducing a variety musical instruments. While the instruments aren't named in the lyrics, this is something you can do with your child. In the recording, each new instrument gets a solo for its verse, so your child will get to hear what they sound like!
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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books about singalong books: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/40-sin...
Barefoot Books has created an animated version of each book in this series (they come on the CD, but are also online and linked below). Your child can watch these first if that kind of conditioning helps your kids to be more interested in the books (as it does mine).
This traditional counting song is even better when it's reimagined as a street parade of kids from different cultures playing all kinds of instruments. Many kids will be familiar with the traditional song, while others may think of it as the Barney theme.
The origins of "Knick Knack Paddy Whack" are obscure and no one really knows what it means for the Old Man to "play one" or "play two" (at least that I could uncover). This book deals with the possible confusion about the counting element by having each new child character standing on top of the next numeral. It's a decent solution.
I love this book for introducing a variety musical instruments. While the instruments aren't named in the lyrics, this is something you can do with your child. In the recording, each new instrument gets a solo for its verse, so your child will get to hear what they sound like!
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer post on books about singalong books: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/40-sin...
June 19, 2021
This is a fantastic book that takes a well-known song and incorporates lots of diversity, introduction to different types of musical instruments, counting, and rhythm...plus really fun, bright illustrations. I can't wait to use this in storytime!!!
January 13, 2020
Updated version of "This Old Man" focusing on musical instruments.
June 19, 2021
Great for storytime! Bright, colorful, a diverse cast, and an easy introduction to music and instruments. Great for March when we do our "March to the Music" theme!
September 26, 2012
The illustration is amazing colorful. The simple counting theme and repetitive text will have readers singing along as this old man comes rolling home! This old man bring different culture with different symbol of instrument as the tag along with this rhyming song with numbers. This is a great time for preschooler can learns their numbers along with the story. The story is a very joyful song and you can use it in a learning experience to how children with numbers, sound of instruments, and rythming words. I will recommend it to others so children can sing-a-long activity after reading the story in a small group.
Learning Experience: The teacher will have 10 different musical instruments with the names of each instruments so the child will know what are the sound of each instrument. The teacher will sing the song 3 times, first time so the children will hear the song then the children can repeat it after the teacher is sing with them. The 10 children will pick up an instrument as the classmate are singing the song about this is old man, he played one on his drum so the student will do the drum sound 3 times, then the 2 student will walk toward the center of the center with another instrument as this old man he played two knick, knack for you....then the child will make a sound as the bass..etc. All the children will continue to follow the instruments as follow. So the classmates will have their own beautiful parade for that special day.
Learning Experience: The teacher will have 10 different musical instruments with the names of each instruments so the child will know what are the sound of each instrument. The teacher will sing the song 3 times, first time so the children will hear the song then the children can repeat it after the teacher is sing with them. The 10 children will pick up an instrument as the classmate are singing the song about this is old man, he played one on his drum so the student will do the drum sound 3 times, then the 2 student will walk toward the center of the center with another instrument as this old man he played two knick, knack for you....then the child will make a sound as the bass..etc. All the children will continue to follow the instruments as follow. So the classmates will have their own beautiful parade for that special day.
May 20, 2013
I hired Steve Roslonek to perform at a festival I was running back in 2004 or so, long before any of his albums were released. It was a pleasant surprise to pop the CD for Knick Knack Paddy Whack into the player and go, "Oh, I know that voice!" (It makes perfect sense. Barefoot Books is based in Cambridge, MA, and Steve did TONS of shows in the Boston area. It seems logical that they'd get connected at some point.)
The music is great -- and I often sing the book without the CD, as the children respond well to both approaches, and the CD version is often too fast for a first read-through; it doesn't give the kids enough time to really absorb everything going on in the illustrations. The book offers a nice way to review counting, sequential memory, musical instruments, and so on. It's a fun read, and highly enjoyable. And Christiane Engel's illustrations are superb (though some of the representations of musical instruments are inaccurate, which can confuse the children, and me as I try to help explain the differences between different instruments).
The music is great -- and I often sing the book without the CD, as the children respond well to both approaches, and the CD version is often too fast for a first read-through; it doesn't give the kids enough time to really absorb everything going on in the illustrations. The book offers a nice way to review counting, sequential memory, musical instruments, and so on. It's a fun read, and highly enjoyable. And Christiane Engel's illustrations are superb (though some of the representations of musical instruments are inaccurate, which can confuse the children, and me as I try to help explain the differences between different instruments).
February 5, 2015
Knick Knack Paddy Whack is just too cute! SteveSongs and Christiane Engel knew what they were doing to bring the book to life. The book is filled with vibrant colors and action everywhere, it just makes you want to get up and move. The book has a significant pattern it follows with the words, It always says "this old man he played" and "with a knick knack, paddy whack give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home" The pattern is consistent throughout the book. This book is so cute you can't help but share it. It was also obvious the book is loved because it showed signs of wear and tear. I thought it was adorable.
December 19, 2016
Read at Baby/Toddler Story Time on 2/21/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby/Toddler Lap Time on 7/20/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at drop-in story time on 4/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at toddler lap time on 4/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at Baby/Toddler Lap Time on 7/20/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at drop-in story time on 4/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
Read at toddler lap time on 4/19/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
November 17, 2013
This book was fabulous. A simple song with simple pictures. A CD that can also be watched on the computer with simple animation. The words were slightly different than how I remembered them as a child, but I preferred the words in this book. The CD has different play options when used on the computer. A fun book for young children, or older children who can read along with the singing.
April 12, 2010
You can now listen to this story via the Barefoot Books Podcast.
January 16, 2013
Very nice, colorful illustrations in this familiar yet fun story/song! It was used in a toddler/preschool music program, and rhythm sticks were incorporated for "knick knack, paddy whack give a dog a bone, this old man came rolling home." Great for rhythm, counting, numbers, and fun!
November 22, 2016
This is a fun get moving song to use in the classroom! We do a lot of "wiggle time," and the kids would absolutely love dancing and singing along to a book! I plan on showing this to my kids in my classroom!
November 10, 2014
It's not the original version, with much weaker rhymes.
June 21, 2010
Very cute, but the words are slightly different than the original, and my storytime kids were confused as they tried to sing along.
February 25, 2013
3.9
http://www.barefootbooks.com/story/ch...
Fun musical animated song from this book.
http://www.barefootbooks.com/story/ch...
Fun musical animated song from this book.
March 7, 2014
Story Break 3/6/2014
Preschool storytime 3/7/2014
Preschool storytime 3/7/2014
November 5, 2025
I love these updated versus. No going to heaven.
September 17, 2025
good action. I thought it might be too long for littles, so I went to 5 then skipped to 10. but they still wanted to do it again.
Read
December 1, 20171) This book has not won any awards
2) It is best suited for students in Preschool-1st grade
3) A diverse book that follows the well known song of Knick Knack Paddy Whack. Each character is of different ethnicity and all play a variety of instruments. It also includes some basic math concepts. The illustrations of the book are quite detailed.
4) A basic song-book that includes a catchy song while also containing important lessons of acceptance of diversity and detailed illustrations that would certainly engage young readers. The lessons this book teaches to such young readers are rewarding if the students actually pick up on them.
5) There would be two uses for this book in my classroom. The first would be that I would have my students sing the song together as a class simply for comprehension and enjoyment purposes. The second would be that I would have my students work together as a class to draw (or paint) a large illustration of the entire class playing instruments together as if we all were the characters in the book, building the positive feelings towards our classroom community.
2) It is best suited for students in Preschool-1st grade
3) A diverse book that follows the well known song of Knick Knack Paddy Whack. Each character is of different ethnicity and all play a variety of instruments. It also includes some basic math concepts. The illustrations of the book are quite detailed.
4) A basic song-book that includes a catchy song while also containing important lessons of acceptance of diversity and detailed illustrations that would certainly engage young readers. The lessons this book teaches to such young readers are rewarding if the students actually pick up on them.
5) There would be two uses for this book in my classroom. The first would be that I would have my students sing the song together as a class simply for comprehension and enjoyment purposes. The second would be that I would have my students work together as a class to draw (or paint) a large illustration of the entire class playing instruments together as if we all were the characters in the book, building the positive feelings towards our classroom community.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews